Succession issue: a dictator’s primary mistake.

If there was any single decision that caused the proceeding years to become more politically turbulent, it was his choice regarding the succession issue to Philippine leadership.

As a leader he had to look beyond his lifetime. And his decision was very shortsighted. The exercise of dictatorial powers is a potent and seductive drug.

The succession issue blinded him to that corner of decisionmaking where self-interest – the need to perpetuate power – came into conflict with the needs of the nation. It was essential for the country to have a succession process that was orderly, transparent, and politically stabilizing.

Thus, he hesitated to allow for a transparent and reasonably fair succession process. This was to prove to be Marcos’s fatal weakness in controlling the government.

The ambiguity of his moves in the succession process were evident in his failure to clearly identify a second person in command of the government, who could take over in the event of his death or incapacity.

The transitional nature of the political system according to the 1973 Constitution was left undefined in view of the martial law government. This constitution adopted a British-style parliamentary system.

But as martial law progressed and Marcos contemplated a return to normalcy, he veered toward revising this suspended provision toward the French model of a presidential-parliamentary system. Under such a set-up, a strong executive would be in charge of the government, which was also run under parliamentary lines.